The Richardson for Congress campaign released an internal poll over the weekend that has the California State Assemblywoman leading all candidates in the special election. The poll has Richardson leading Oropeza 25% to 16%, with 35% undecided.   Internal polls are always hard to judge since they are often set up to favor the candidate doing the polling.
 
I asked Richardson campaign manager Derek Humphrey what the exact question was that produced the poll numbers. He responded that the full poll question was:  “In the special election for congress who would you vote for if the choices were…”  Then the pollster read the names of 12 candidates and their ballot designations.  He added that question was asked as is without any positive or negative info on the other candidates.   Humphrey intends to release more on the poll later this week. 
 
Here are the results released by the Richardson campaign. 
 
Laura Richardson (D) 25%
Jenny Oropeza (D) 16%
Valerie McDonald (D) 7%
John M. Kanaley (R) 5%
Teri Ramirez (R) 2%
Ed Wilson (D) 2%
Other Democrats 4%
Other Republicans 2%
Minor Party Candidates 1%
Undecided 35% 
 
The telephone survey of 400 likely voters in the 37th congressional district was conducted by Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates.